Clamping devices



Dec. 26, 1961 c. F. PEARL 3,014,258

CLAMPING DEVICES Filed June 16, 1960 FIG.2

INVENTOR, CURTIS F. PEARL,

ATTORNEY 3,014,258 CLAMPING DEVICES Curtis F. Pearl, West Englewood,N.J., assignor to Stacor Equipment Company, Newark, N.J., a firm Fileddune 16, 1960, Ser. No. 36,542 7 Claims. (Cl. 24-251) The presentinvention relates to a clamp for sheet material which for example can beused to bind a number of drawings, maps, and the like and then, ifdesired, suspend them on suitable supports or in a suspension file orsuch device can be used to suspend a rug for display or hang curtainsand drapes, and more particularly this invention is concerned with thattype of clamping device in which two hinged, opposite clamping jawsextend from within a channel therealong and arranged so that movement ofsaid jaws into the channel causes them to approach each other andmovement thereof out of said channel causes such jaws to move apart.

Heretofore, clamps of this class when of relatively long dimensionrequired manual manipulation near each end region at the least,consisting usually of turning nuts on bolts in order to close the clamptightly along its entire length or to effect opening of the clamp.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide anovel and improved clamping device of the character mentioned, of anylength and operable from but a single point thereon which preferably isat an end thereof and yet effect proper clamp and release.

A further object thereof is to provide a clamping device of the natureset forth, which is simple in construction, reasonably cheap tomanufacture, easy to use and efficient in carrying out the purposes forwhich it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosureproceeds.

For the practice of this invention, one form it may assume is to have aclamp protruding from the interior of a channel member and so formedthat it will cooperate with the opposite walls of the channel to becammed to close when drawn into said channel. A spring means is providedto bias the clamp blades to open. The channel member is provided with acam formation cooperating with a cam follower which suspends the clampwithin the channel. Cam action is such that upon movement of the clampalong the channel in one direction, said clamp will be drawn into thechannel and upon movement of said clamp in the opposite direction alongthe channel, the clamp will move in a direction outwardly from thechannel, whereupon the spring will cause the clamp to open. An operablemember, preferably at one end of the channel, is included forselectively effecting longitudinal movement of the clamp in eitherdirection along said channel. This operable member may be a nutjournalled on the channel and engaging a threaded shank extending alongthe channel from one of the clamps pivotally associated blades or jaws.Upon turning said nut, the threaded shank will slide.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of aclamping device in accordance with this invention. Here, the clampingmeans is in open condition.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the channel member which serves asthe frame on which the remaining components are associated.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are outer surface views of the clamping bladesrespectively.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the means used to susnited Smtes Patent0 ice pend the clamping means within the frame channel member and aspring means to bias the clamp to open.

FIG. 6 is a composite fragmentary perspective view showing one of theclamping blades or jaws and an associated screw.

FIG. 7 is a section taken at line 7-7 in FIG. 1, slightly modified byhaving rails on the channel member to enable the device to be mounted ina filing rack support bracket.

FIG. 8 is a section taken at line 88 in FIG. 1, but showing the clampingmeans in closed condition.

The FIGS. 58 are drawn to an enlarged scale.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a clamping devicecomprising an elongated channel 16, into which partly extends the hingedend of two opposite, elongated clamping blades or jaws 17 and 18 whichare along the channel. Such hinge structure may be of any suitable form,but preferred is the one shown where the cylindrical rod 17, integralwith and along an edge of the blade 17, cooperates with thelengthwise-slotted tubular formation :18 which is integral with andalong an edge of the blade 13. Said rod part 17 is rotatably fitted inpart 18' and retained therein because said part 18' envelops more than ahalf circle of said rod part 17. It is evident that assembly of theseblades is effected by longitudinal movement of the rod part 17' into theopening 18''. One end of said rod part 17' is cut away for a distance Aso that the reduced end 19 of the screw 19 can be entered into thevacant end region thus afforded in the slotted tube 18' and then securedto the blade 18 by means of a pin or screw positioned through the holes20, 21. The clamp formed by said blades 17', 18 is supported near itsends on the shanks 22 by having each such shank with a head 23 whichlies between the clamping blades and supports the hinge structure; eachof said shanks carrying a cam follower 24 which rides on the inclines 25serving as the cam means formed in the channel member 16 by the cut-outs26. At the other end of each shank 22 is a stop element which may be anut 27 in threaded engagement with the shank. Clearance for the shanks22 through the clamp structure is provided by the related cut-outs 28,28' and by the related cut-outs 29, 29 in the respective blades 17, 18.The screw 19 at its exposed end carries the operating nut 30 which isjourn-alled to the channel 16. The numerals 31, 32 denote shoulders onsaid nut which cooperate with the fingers 33 to permit said nut onlyrotary movement in relation to the channelmember 16. On each shank 22,between the clamping blades 17', 18, a stressed bow spring 34 is carriedto bias the clamp to open.

The hinge structure joining the clamping blades 17, 18, is midwaybetween and spaced from the side walls of the channel member 16. Theouter surfaces 17" and 18" of the blades 17, 18 diverge in a directionout of the channel 16 and for some distance outward of said channel andalways contact respectively the distal longitudinal edges of saidchannel, which act as earns to close the clamp when said blades 17, "18comprising the clamp, are drawn into the channel. The blades 17, 18 areof such form that when drawn into the channel 16, their freelongidutinal end regions come into contact with each other. It isadvisable that each blade be bent lengthwise to be of angle section asshown.

To use the device 15, take it in its condition as shown in FIGS. 1 and7. Insert sheets between the separated blades 17, 18 and turn the knob35 which is an integral part of the nut 30, whereby the blades areshifted towards the right in FIG. 1. The cam followers 24 will ride upthe earns 25, thereby drawing said blades 17, 18 into the channel 16,causing them to approach each other until they clamp the sheets insertedbetween them. The movement of the blades will cause the springs 34 tobe- 3 come further stressed or to become stressed they were not. Turningthe knob 35 in the opposite direction, will cause the clamping blades17, 18 to move toward the left in FIG. 1, whereupon the cam followers 24will ride down the cams 25 and the action of the springs 34 will causethe clamp to open.

Of importance to note is that the device is workable from a singe pointof control, namely by the turning of the knob 35, which when at the endof the device as shown, is readily accessible even when such devices arecarried on filing racks which may support the channel 16, by forinstance, having along the side Walls of the channel the rails 36 whichare received into channeled brackets on fixed framework, as is wellknown in the art and needs no further illustration. It is evident andwell known to suspend the channel member 16 near its ends by having sameacross two raised spaced bars.

These devices 15 are usually comparatively long and require at least twoshanks 22 and its associated mechanism for their clamping blades tooperate properly. Of course, when the clamp is short, a singlesuspension means and its related mechanism would be sufficient, but theadaptation for use in comparatively long clamps is most practical forthis invention.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applicationswithout departing mm the essential features herein disclosed. It istherefore intended and desired that the embodiment shown herein shall bedeemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall coverall patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to thefollowing claims rather than to the specific description herein toindicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a channel frame, a clampcomprising two opposite gripping members; said members and the oppositewalls of the channel frame having complemental camming surfaces whichcause said members to move towards each other and grip an object placedtherebetween when drawn into the channel, cam means on the channelframe, means supporting said clamp in the channel and cooperating withsaid cam means as the follower thereof; said clamp being drawn into thechannel upon relative movement in one direction along the channel ofsaid cam and follower means, and an operator means on said device toselectively cause relative movement of said earn and follower means insaid one direction and in the opposite direction along the channel.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the operator means ispositioned at an end of the device.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cam means is an inclinewith respect to the line of extension of the channel depth; the camfollower being in contact with said incline and free for movement alongthe channel with the clamp; said follower means upon operation of saidoperator means being caused thereby to move along the channel.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said incline is offered by anedge of a cut-out in a wall of the channel; said edge supporting the camfollower.

5. An article as defined in claim 3, wherein the incline is offered bycorresponding edges of opposite cut-outs, one in each of the oppositewalls of the channel; the cam follower being supported by both saidedges.

6. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein the operator means comprisesa nut journalled on the channel frame and a screw extending from theclamp in threaded engagement with said nut.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said nut is at an end of thechannel frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS316,264 Heaford Apr. 21, 1885 816,777 Brown Apr. 3, 1906 829,118 MeekAug. 21, 1906 1,219,721 Gaylord Mar. 20, 1917 1,245,908 Harriss Nov. 6,1917 2,243,517 Adamson May 27, 1941

